Mint chocolate chip

Arti Gnanasekar

“We’re here for you,” sophomore Arti Gnanasekar’s mother said. “Let’s spend the rest of our time doing something fun.”

Gnanasekar sits outside a Baskin Robbins in San Diego with her mother and older sister, her favorite mint chocolate chip ice cream in hand. She’s wearing her fencing pants and a stuffy t-shirt as she devours her sweet treat, but the bitter taste of losing is still fresh on her tongue.

Due to nerves, Gnanasekar rarely lets her parents watch her compete. However, for this important tournament, her mother had driven them down to San Diego, so she would be spectating from the bleachers. Gnanasekar was motivated to perform well because she wanted to impress her mother, who had taken time out of her day and was watching her fence for the first time.

Gnanasekar had done great in her preliminary bouts, or rounds, but fell behind and lost in an elimination round 13-15. Being so close to winning made the loss sting more, but Gnanasekar’s mother reassured her that she “would always support her whether she [won or lost].” Despite the frustration Gnanasekar had felt, her mom’s kind words and actions comforted her, like a “warm bubble of love.”